The Statement Of Teaching Philosophy - 1775 Words

My Philosophy Introduction â€Å"The statement of teaching philosophy (also called the teaching statement or teaching philosophy statement) promotes reflective practice by encouraging instructors to describe their teaching methods, to justify why they use those methods, to analyze the effectiveness of those methods, and to consider how they might appropriately modify those methods in future courses.† (Schà ¶nwetter et al., 2002) Stake holder motivation, engagement, cognitive associations, and personal values are the principal elements of education. The attainment of knowledge, standards mastery, and the ability to reason come second to a student s overall well-being. Elements of behaviorism, essentialism, progressivism, existentialism and†¦show more content†¦For example, many first drafts include general statements about learning goals as well as teaching practices.† (Kearns Sullivan, 2011) Teachers are encouraged to systematically change declarative statements about their passion f or teaching moments in the classroom that speak of learning goals and personal qualities. It is through reflection of experiences that teachers can build personal expectations of themselves. Review of the Literature Within a framework of teaching, educators focus on the nature of knowledge and how students gain that knowledge. There are five established, major educational philosophies. They are behaviorism, essentialism, progressivism, existentialism and perennialism. These philosophies greatly focus on what should be taught. Behavioral learning theories are simply explained as reinforcing behaviors one would like to see repeated. Slavin states, Reinforcement will increase the frequency of a behavior with positive or negative consequences. (2012, p. 120) The student environment impacts student decisions and learning. Positive reinforcement is the application of a stimulus. Negative reinforcement is the application of a punishment. The role of teachers in behavioral learning theories is to provide immediate and concise feedback of behaviors. Teachers should provide tasks with small,

Opp Papers Free Essays

Want to play on a truly global field? Here’s your chance to up your game to a new level. Job Title: Reports To: Job Band: Function: Location: Cabin Crew Purser Three (3) Operations Lagos Purpose Statement: To ensure passenger safety and comfort on board the aircraft and to provide the same with the highest degree of service and customer care in line with the company’s brand, service and people values. Primarily working in the Business and Economy section of the aircraft. We will write a custom essay sample on Opp Papers or any similar topic only for you Order Now Key Accountabilities: a) To ensure on board safety, overall welfare and comfort of passengers on board each flight. b) To offer exceptional service to customers that will encourage continued patronage of the Airline’s services. c) To ensure that where possible, service is recovered whenever there is a breakdown or service failure. d) To maintain currency of cabin crew licence and competency on all aircraft types included in the licence. e) Remain current on company’s instructions via General Notices, SEP and AVMED manuals. ) To attend a pre-flight briefing and to answer a safety related question from the Purser in accordance with the Standard operating procedures described in the Air Nigeria Cabin Attendant Manual. Knowledge, Skills and Experience: Some of the required qualifications, skills experience for the role are as follows HND or good University degree Completed NYSC Confident Swimmer Good spoken English Language Able to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) Should possess qualities of diplomacy Able to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) A good understanding of the French language and least one year customer would be an asset. Working Relationships: ? Internal: SEP/AVMED Instructors, Flight Deck crew, Crew Line Managers, Flight Service Managers, Pursers, Crew Control, Customer Services Agents, Catering unit and Engineering unit. External: Passengers, Catering Companies, Hotels ? Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should apply Method of Application: by writing a covering letter as to why you believe you should be a part of a winning team. Please attach a full length colour photograph of yourself and an updated curriculum vitae with copies of relevant certificates and submit at the Front Desk any of the following locations- Air Nigeria Office, 3rd Floor MMIA, Lagos or 9th Floor, Etiebets place, 21 Mobolaji bank Anthony way, Ikeja Other important information: NIL Take down date: November 23, 2010 Best regards, For: Air Nigeria Human Resources Department How to cite Opp Papers, Papers

Langston Huges Essay Example For Students

Langston Huges Essay A gentle and mild-mannered soul who spent much of his life at the center of controversy, a gregarious spirit who was also zealously private, a writer of social conscience and solidarity who was fundamentally alone, Langston Hughes devoted his art to the true expression of the lives, hopes, fears, and angers of ordinary black people, without self-consciousness or sugar-coating. And this devotion has been repaid with an extraordinary and continuing popularity, as well as with a still-increasing critical acceptance of the literary artistry with which it was conveyed. James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902, to James Nathaniel Hughes, a lawyer and businessman, and Carrie Mercer (Langston) Hughes, a teacher. Their first child, a boy, had died in infancy. Their marriage was in trouble by the time of Langstons birth, and the couple separated shortly thereafter. James Hughes was, by his sons account, a cold man who hated blacks (and hated himself for being one), feeling that most of them deserved their ill fortune because of what he considered to be their ignorance and laziness. He went to Cuba and ultimately settled in Mexico. Langstons youthful visits to him there, although sometimes for extended periods, were strained and painful. James Hughes reluctantly paid for his son to attend Columbia University in 1921-22, but when he died in 1934, he left everything to three elderly women who had cared for him in his last illness, and Langston wasnt even mentioned in his will. Hughess mother went through protracted separations and reconciliations in her second marriage (she and her son from this marriage would live with him off and on in later years, often seriously depleting his limited funds, until her death in 1938). He was raised by alternately by her, by his maternal grandmother, and, after his grandmothers death, by family friends. By the time he was fourteen, he had lived in Joplin; Buffalo; Cleveland; Lawrence, Kansas; Mexico City; Topeka, Kansas; Colorado Springs; Kansas City; and Lincoln, Illinois. In 1915, he was class poet of his grammar-school graduating class in Lincoln. From 1916 to 1920, he attended Central High School in Cleveland, where he was a star athlete, wrote poetry and short stories (and published many of them in the Central High Monthly), and on his own read such modern poets as Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edgar Lee Masters, Vachel Lindsay, and Carl Sandburg. His classmates were for the most part the children of European immigrants, who treated him largely without discrimination and introduced him to leftist political ideas. After graduation in 1920, he went to Mexico to teach English for a year. While on the train to Mexico, he wrote the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, which was published in the June 1921 issue of The Crisis, a leading black publication. After his academic year at Columbia, he lived for a year in Harlem, where he supported himself by an assortment of odd jobs. In June 1923, he embarked on a six-month voyage as a cabin boy on a merchant freighter bound for West Africa. After its return, he took a job on a ship sailing to Holland. In the middle of his second round trip to Holland, he quit the job in Rotterdam and caught a train to Paris. where he lived for the better part of a year, working as a nightclub doorman and a dishwasher. He also became emotionally close to Mary Coussey, the daughter of a Nigerian-born businessman. Throughout his life, for all his personal warmth and friendliness, Hughes was an intensely private person, and no aspect of his life was more closely guarded than his sexuality: different friends and acquaintances were equally certain that he was heterosexual, homosexual, and asexual. History of the Tibetan Genocide EssayIts titlewhich alluded to the necessity of bringing ones wardrobe, in hard times, to a pawnbroker (many of whom were Jewish, especially in black neighborhoods)was off-putting and somewhat offensive to many white readers, while the poems themselves, straightforward treatments of the harsh and gritty lives of ordinary black people, were offensive to many black critics and intellectuals, who wanted only the most positive and refined images of black life to be presented for the inspection of white audiences. While Hughes was not unsympathetic to the feelings of such critics, he rejected their basic assumptions as a willingness to allow the dominant white society to dictate the terms upon which black people, their values, and their lifestyles would be judged. During the highly politicized 1930s, Hughes journeyed to the Soviet Union with a group of black filmmakers. Growing disillusioned with the filmmakers and their project, he toured Russia and parts of Asia on his own. Despite his interest in leftist political causes, he apparently never became a communist. After his return to America, he was involved in the founding of several theatrical companies in Harlem, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He also wrote and published some overtly political poetry, including defenses of the Scottsboro Boys, nine black youths in the deep South who had been, under sensational and extremely dubious circumstances, convicted of raping two young white women. His most important later volume of poetry is unquestionably Montage of a Dream Deferred (1951), which weaves lyrics drawn from the lives of the people of HarlemHughess home from 1947 to the end of his lifeinto a unified work that gives a remarkably full and vivid portrait of a community, its hopes and fears, its aspirations and frustrations. One of its most famous lyrics would later provide the title for Lorraine Hansberrys play A Raisin in the Sun. Hughes also became an extremely prolific writer of prose, publishing two autobiographies, two novels, several volumes of short stories, and a number of plays. By far his best-known and most beloved fictional creation was Jesse B. Semple, a Virginia native and Harlem resident known affectionately as Simple. His complicated love life, his anger and frustration at the indignities of segregation, his innate sorrow in the midst of a humorous and often sardonic approach to lifeall of these aspects of his nature were effectively conveyed through a series of brief sketches (ultimately collected in five volumes), in which he traded opinions with a somewhat stuffy and respectable acquaintance, who served as a foil for Simples much more unguarded and unconventional views. Both characters were drawn from aspects of Hughess own personality. The inspiration for Simple had originally come to Hughes through a conversation with a defense-plant worker in January 1943. The first Simple sketch, intended to serve as pro-war propaganda, appeared a month later in Hughess regular column in the Chicago Defender, a black newspaper with a national readership. From the beginning, Simple was a great hit with Hughess readersalthough, as so often with his work, the sketches drew objections from more respectable typesand has remained one of the most enduring aspects of his achievement.

The Importance Of Parents Essay Research Paper free essay sample

The Importance Of Parents Essay, Research Paper The Importance of Parents Parents play a really of import function in the lives of their kids. They have to construct a solid foundation for their childs in order for them to hold a successful and rewarding life. The foundation needs to be built at an early age, and needs to maintain being built throughout the kid s early adolescence. The foundation of an person can be broken down into several different parts, such as ethical motives, spiritual beliefs, political point of views, and instruction, to call a few. Ethical motives are likely the most import portion in an single s life. They define right from incorrect and good from bad. Crime is frequently times attributed to the deficiency of ethical motives that a individual has. Criminals are, in many instances, consequences of broken places or households, where ethical motives where non decently taught by the parents. We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance Of Parents Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When this peculiar portion of the foundation is losing, a individual can go corrupt. The parents truly need to concentrate in on learning their kids ethical motives, because it will determine the character of the person and assist him to go a better individual. These ethical motives will assist steer the kid throughout their life-time. The offense rate would be well lower in the universe if this important piece of the foundation is decently assembled. Parents can besides act upon the spiritual beliefs of the kid. This is besides another really of import thing for a kid to understand and larn. Religion may give the kid person or some thing to pray to when in a clip of demand. It besides will give the kid a sense of hope and religion. Without hope and religion, the kid may happen himself to be lost and confused, and faith will hopefully cast visible radiation on the right way and aid to do better life determinations. Political point of views are frequently times influenced by the kid s parents. For illustration, if both parents are democrats, there is a likely opportunity that when the kid grows old plenty to vote and take part in the political facets of his state, that he will go a democratic elector. This is more of an illustration of an influence that parents have on their kids. Early on childhood instruction is an first-class chance for the kid to construct his character and present himself as an intelligent individual. Knowledge will assist the kid in the hereafter in many ways, including occupation interviews. When using for a occupation, the employer can normally state if the individual has been good educated and has a good personality ; this early instruction will truly assist the kid to reflect in the work force and give him an upper-hand on another individual who may hold received less instruction. A solid and strong foundation is such an of import portion of and single. If a individual was brought up under good conditions and taught manners and ethical motives, so he will turn to be a well-respected gentleman. The life he will take will be much more gratifying and successful if the parents do their portion in assisting him construct this foundation to success. ( 506 )

Guide on How to Write an Evaluation Essay All Things Considered

Guide on How to Write an Evaluation Essay All Things Considered What is an Evaluation Essay An evaluation essay aims at the presentation of a point of view or opinion on a particular piece of work or a subject. In many aspects, an evaluation essay is similar to a review. To write a comprehensive evaluation paper, you should analyze both the advantages and disadvantages of the subject and provide a reasonable judgment. The evaluation paper writing implies that you can assess the product, program, or movie and deliver the understanding of the subject to the readers. Thus, a proper evaluation paper has to be based on the strengths and weaknesses of the piece of work and be reasonable and unbiased. Requirements for an Evaluation Essay There are three general requirements that are crucial for an evaluation essay. For a paper to be evaluative, unbiased, and reasonable, you should follow the CJE guidelines. These are the Criteria, Judgement, and Evidence. Criteria provide the desire to present the possible outcomes of the evaluated component. If you set the concise criteria, it will prevent the evaluative essay from seeming like the type of writing where you express your own opinion. To be able to write this kind of essay correctly, you should determine the subject that you are going to evaluate. Criteria could be parts of the evaluated subject. For instance, while writing an evaluative essay on the movie, you can choose to focus on the plot, scenery, and actors. The judgment establishes whether or not the specific criterion is met. For example, if you evaluate the criterion of the plot, the judgment indicates whether or not the movie captivates the viewers attention and exceeds their expectations. The evidence is all the data that supports the judgment. If your judgment states that a particular movie has a controversial plot, you should provide a wide range of examples to prove that such a judgment was reached. Topics for Evaluation Essay Writing When you select a topic for an evaluation essay, it is necessary to focus on a particular product, business, or service. This implies that you need to evaluate a specific class instead of a range of similar classes. Moreover, it is better to write about a subject you know. Such an approach will make the process of criteria, judgment, and evidence establishment easier. The general subjects for an evaluation essay topic selection are sports, performing arts, restaurants, and social as well as ethical problems. However, there are a lot of other spheres from which you can choose the topic for your paper. For instance, you can evaluate the recent scientific research, the building of a new shopping mall, or the major event in your educational institution. The main advice for a topic selection is the understanding of the subject and the ability to provide the necessary criteria, judgment, and evaluation. Here are some of the topics that can be used for an evaluation essay: The Recent Season of the English Premier League Football Team; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: The Impact on Contemporary Animation Development; What Is Your Favorite Video Game? How Do Self-Driving Cars Influence Modern Life? The Diversity of Food in American Restaurants; In Which Way Is the Cultural Heritage of the Country Described in Foreign Movies? Discussion of the Music Concert You Attended; Evaluate the Taste, Service, and Atmosphere of the Best Pizzeria in Your City; Evaluate the Coverage of Any Major Sports Event; Provide the Evaluation of Your Favorite Event in High School. Pre-Writing Tips from Our Expert Writers Determine what you are going to evaluate. First and foremost, concentrate on the brainstorming of possible topics and make a list of them. For instance, you can make a list of the movies you watched or the books you read. After that, you can choose the topic and proceed to search for more information about it. Define the audience. You should be aware of the people you are targeting with the evaluation essay. It is important to take into account the audience that is interested in the paper. The next step is the definition of what your audience already knows. The understanding of the readers expectations will help you to write an essay properly. Define the subject. Before evaluating, find a sufficient amount of background information about your topic. For instance, when evaluating a movie, provide a brief plot summary and describe the characters to prepare the evaluation context for the audience. Define the proper criteria. To evaluate a topic and to be able to determine whether or not it meets the evaluation requirements, you should specify the criteria that will be assessed. While writing an evaluation essay on a movie, you can focus on the plot, cinematography, and characters. Moreover, it is essential to determine the most illustrative example for each of your criteria. By analyzing the examples, define the good and bad points of the topic. Evaluate the criteria. Finally, proceed to the criticizing of the chosen criteria. This step is the continuation of the previous one. You should check whether the body of an essay will address the effective and ineffective features of each criterion. In order to do this, support your criteria judgment with the examples and provide an argument according to your thesis. The Structure An evaluation essay generally consists of the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. In the introductory paragraph, you have to provide the hook sentence, present the subject, and write the thesis statement. As for the body paragraphs, each of them should include one criterion and the judgment along with the evidence. The conclusion has to highlight the main points in your evaluation essay and create a final impression on your audience. Introduction The introductory paragraph in your evaluation essay should provide general information about what you are going to evaluate. The proper introduction will help the readers to understand the idea of the writing and captivate their attention. Hook sentence. The first and very important aspect of the introduction is the hook. It is the sentence that opens your essay. The hook has to be designed in a way that intrigues the audience. The successful hook sentence for an evaluation essay may include some interesting facts or peculiar features of the specific subject. Presentation of the subject. The introductory paragraph of an evaluation essay should provide general information about the subject. You can do this by describing an overview of the issue, discussing its impact on society, and the worthiness of the evaluation. In addition, in the introduction, it is necessary to establish the criteria that will prove your thesis. Thesis statement. The thesis is the central aspect of your evaluation essay; it presents the key features of the whole writing. It should be written at the end of your introductory paragraph. To create a proper thesis statement, you should develop the overall judgment and the supporting reasons. Do not make your thesis too general and unspecific. Providing the central claims in the thesis statement is crucial for a proper evaluation essay. Moreover, a bad thesis will lead to the readers’ negative perception of the whole paper. For instance, if your evaluation essay is about a TV series, an incorrect thesis statement would be: The Simpsons is a great TV series, as it has a good plot, characters, and cinematics. On the contrary, if you make a thesis statement more specific and add more details about the show, it will become a great thesis. The example of a proper thesis statement is the following: Being an impressive satire, The Simpsons directly influenced American society, particularly with the help of vivid characters and professional cinematics. Such a thesis statement provides information about the subject, states the judgment, and presents criteria for further evaluation. Body Paragraphs Body paragraphs are the most substantial part of an evaluation essay. The general requirement for each body paragraph is that it should contain only one criterion. Moreover, each paragraph has to begin with the topic sentence about a certain criterion. The proper organization of your evaluation essay is a central aspect of the readability and understanding of the topic. Generally, there are three body paragraphs in the evaluation essay, and they should be structured in the following way: First reason. The first body paragraph has to present your judgment of the first criterion. The topic sentence has to be connected with your introduction with the help of transitional words. For instance, the topic sentence of the first body paragraph could be the following: First and foremost, The Simpsons provides a funny and captivating plot. Such a topic sentence implies that the paragraph is devoted to the evaluation of the TV series plot. Then, you should prove your argument by presenting valid supporting evidence. However, it is also crucial to address the counterarguments and be able to refute them. Second reason. In the second body paragraph, you are to provide a topic sentence for the second criterion. Considering the thesis example, it could be the following: Secondly, the wide range of characters makes The Simpsons unique and captivates the viewers attention. After that, you should present some character examples from the TV series to support your judgment. Third reason. The final body paragraph should focus on the judgment of the third criterion. As the thesis example provides the cinematics as the last criterion, the topic sentence could be: Thirdly, the frames and the camera angles in The Simpsons often provide some ridiculous yet interesting scenes. In this paragraph, you can present the most memorable scenes from the TV show and refer to the excellence of the animation. Once again, remember to answer the controversial aspects of the cinematics to make your judgment more reasonable. Finally yet importantly, it is vital to realize that an evaluation essay is based on the facts, not your opinion. Therefore, always try to avoid bias and focus on providing reasonable supporting evidence for your judgment. Conclusion The conclusion is where you summarize your criteria, judgment, and evidence. In this paragraph, you have to restate your thesis and the aim of your paper in other words. In this part, the important aspect is the substitution of the words so that they do not copy the introduction. Furthermore, in conclusion, you can provide statements that may impress the audience. It is necessary because this will create a positive perception of your evaluation essay. This implies that the readers will like your writing and will be more likely to recommend it to others. The main demand for the conclusion is that it should be connected with the introductory paragraph. For instance, if you describe the subject in the introduction, you have to state what the audience should have expected from it in conclusion. Such an approach will shape your evaluation essay, and the readers will understand the subject better. Post-writing Tips The work on your evaluation essay does not end with the last sentence. After you have finished your paper, it is important to proofread and revise an essay. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and style. Then, reassure yourself that the sources are credible and you have cited all of them. These are general tips not only for an evaluation paper but also for all other types of writings. While proofreading an evaluation essay, there are several key aspects that you have to take into account. Firstly, check whether your evaluation is not a summary. The major part of an essay should be devoted to the critical analysis of the subject. Secondly, revise the structure of your paper. Does your introduction have a hook sentence, enough background information, and a clear and proper thesis statement? Do all of the body paragraphs describe the relevant criteria? Does the conclusion summarize the whole essay and is it connected with the introductory paragraph? The structure is crucial for the evaluation paper, so you have to make sure that the writing is done appropriately. Finally, when revising an evaluation essay, remember about the CJE guidelines. In your paper, find each criterion and the judgment to the criterion. Next, reassure that the evidence you have provided is sufficient and relevant to the judgment. Such a proofreading approach will help you to improve the quality of an evaluation essay. If you take these evaluation essay tips into account, it will enhance your writing skills and, as a result, make your papers more appealing to the readers. References Evaluation Essays: Thesis Statements. Retrieved from http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/stankey/Writing/Evaluate/SampThes.htm Kearney, V. (2018). How to Write an Evaluation Paper with Sample Essays. Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Evaluation-Review-essay Philpott, S. (2017). How to Write an Evaluation Essay. Retrieved from https://penandthepad.com/write-evaluation-essay-2480.html Quick Guide to an Evaluation Essay. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.unr.edu/Documents/liberal-arts/writing-center/Quick%20Guide%20to%20an%20Evaluation%20Essay.pdf The Evaluation Essay. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.aims.edu/student/online-writing-lab/understanding-writing/evaluation.php

Adinkra

The very essence of the word ‘Adinkra’ is ‘farewell’; as such, every symbol that is encapsulated in the whole body of Adinkra communicates or corresponds to a unique message or idea. Documented history has it that, as far back as the nineteenth century, unique Adinkra symbols were used in customary and traditional rites of society to depict the ideological stance of that society as regards to the ceremony or event in question. The art was showcased in various forms during festivals, funerals, marriages among others. Today, the use of Adinkra has been widely extended to cover almost every facet of life. In recent times, Adinkra symbols have become a suitable choice of branding the modern, competitive, and trendy Ghanaian clothing lifestyle. Over the years, Adinkra has gone beyond traditional cloth-making designs and has been fashionably incorporated into the designing of t-shirts, buttons, linen fabric clothes. Today, young people would prefer t-shirts with screen-printing inscriptions like ‘Me firi Ghana’, with an Adinkra like ‘Gye Nyame’ boldly designed beneath. Indeed, some acclaimed Ghanaian fashion designers like Mawuli Okudzeto, Kofi Ansah among others, have received international recognition by carving such niches for themselves, with popular brand names like MKOGH and PKOG, just to mention a few. Beyond that, apparels like footwear have also had a taste of Adinkra art. Artisans who make local footwear like sandals, slippers and ‘ahenema’ have also included these symbols in their designs. For instance, a locally made ‘ahenema’ has a carefully designed Adinkra symbol of three concentric rings encircling each other, known as ‘adinkrahene’ at the nose of each slipper. One other art is the design of bags with Adinkra symbols woven or sewn on the surface with fabric, (often kente pieces). The most popular addition to this art collection is the use of these designs in making jewellery and other fashion accessories. It is popular to see rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, anklets, beads and many others designed with symbols like ‘ohene aniwa’, ‘epa’, ‘nkonsonkonson’, etc. In Ghana, the Precious Mineral Marketing Company (PMMC) is a typical example of an enterprise in this regard. Thus, on the international stage, Adinkra symbols have been employed as one of, if not the best indigenous symbols that give all manner of clothing, a unique fashion identity easily recognisable as truly Ghanaian. Quite apart from clothing, these symbols have formed part of locally designed fine and visual art. This has been such that, in creation of several Ghanaian sculptures, Adinkra has been one of the most recognisable themes. There many instances of metal and wooden sculpture designed into Adinkra. More often than not, these visual and fine arts have been used by individuals for decorative purposes. It is now commonplace to see a wall hanging in someone’s home, at the lobby of a corporate institution or in the sitting area of an afro-centric restaurant with the caption ‘welcome’ and a popular symbol like ‘Gye Nyame’ underneath it. Without a shred of doubt any Ghanaian who sees this in any institution in any distant part of the world, feels quite homey and comfortable, to some extent, immediately. Moreover, the designs of wooden plaques lately have also adopted Adinkra symbols. For instance, African institutions of late present Adinkra-designed plaques to individuals and entities, as gifts and awards for splendid performances. Woodcarvers as at today, still design stools for domestic as well as traditional purposes with these popular symbols. In Akan traditional homes, stools often known as ‘asesedwa’ are carved out of wood with these designs. Today as a unique of catching up with the west, local artisans have modernized their design of home furniture placed in areas like the living room, dining room and the study. Beautiful and attractive-looking sets are being carved daily. A common example is wooden coffee-table, which has an Adinkra symbol like ‘sankofa’ at the base with a glass plane on the surface. Hence it is ordinary to see the prolific use of Adinkra in fine and visual art because of the inherent artistic merits they possess. In present day, the use of symbols for trademarks and emblems cannot be over-emphasized. In corporate branding and marketing, many institutions have resorted to the use of symbols, both tactile and visual, as a mark of exclusivity and Adinkra are symbols of no exception. There are countless examples of institutions of all sorts who have adopted these symbols as logos, emblem, etc. In Ghana, for instance, a corporate institution like HFC Bank uses the symbol ‘ebankese’ as its corporate logo. Interestingly, Vodafone Ghana has designed their recharge cards such that whichever denomination has a long strip Adinkra symbols in front of the card. A popular plastics company by name ‘Strong Plast Ltd’ also uses the popular symbol, ‘Gye Nyame’ as a brand name for its plastic chairs. A very popular flour mill also uses ‘sankofa’ as the brand name of it flour. On a lighter side, along the coastal area it is fun to see fishermen decorate their canoes with these symbols as an interesting way of ownership.

Outsourcing Information Technology Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Outsourcing Information Technology - Case Study Example Information technology has many different fields and departments. BPO has under its wing contact centres, which are a major source of revenue saving for the company and also a major source of revenue for the company that acquired the BPO contract. The benefit of out sourcing the information technology is primarily to save a larger income of the company. This is particularly seen in the countries like United States and other western countries. If a company in US has to get the work done by one employee it has to spend at least not less than $5000 per month but when the same work is out sourced the company will get a more professional and quality work done by experts and also in time. They not only take's care of completing work in time but also supports after the completion of the project till the company requests for support. Out sourcing Information technology is also not an easy job, it requires expertise to allot work to the out sourced company. The company should know how to extract the right work in time. A team of dedicated individuals should be devoting to that work and should always check weather the work assigned in done properly and in time.

Purchasing and Supply Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Purchasing and Supply - Essay Example This paper explores purchasing and supply at Wal-Mart stores. Effective supply and purchasing management plays a crucial role in ensuring organizational success. The Line of Business, Mission, and Goals of the Organization Wal-Mart is a multinational corporation that operates in the retail industry. The mission statement of the company is "Saving people money so they can live better"(Pradhan, 2007, P. 111). However, the company does not have a written vision, but relies on five fundamental values to guide its operations. These values include integrity, opportunity, purpose, family and community as well as accountability. Integrity focuses on doing things in the right way. Opportunity as a core value is oriented towards employee growth and development. The company engages in different ways to improve living standards in communities in which it operates and makes its customers to feel part of it. Purpose as a core value of the company enables it to focus on supplying customers with che ap, but quality products while demonstrating responsibility, which is the fifth fundamental value that guides the operations of the company. The Description of Job Functions and Job Responsibilities, Educational Background, Professional Experiences, Personal Challenges, Job Achievement, and Fulfillment The respondent in the interview was a replenishment manager, consumer healthcare at Wal-Mart. From the information obtained from the interview, his job responsibilities include creation of customer level forecast and to partner with customers in the development of an established customer level projection, scrutinizes inventory levels and the movement of products at customer level, creates relevant analyses for probable returns or cost-saving prospects resulting from replenishment strategies. The replenishment leader also shares forecast information with sales team to help them review forecasts, strategies, promotions as well as other necessary information. He is charged with the respo nsibility of developing general customer level inventory planning and also partners with clients to perform in accordance with the strategy. He is also supposed to portray effective use of inventory within customer supply chain. He reports frequently on a scorecard based on agreed metrics and implements action plans to ensure improvement in areas that need to be improved. He co-operates with the Replenishment CEO to craft techniques and processes aimed at improving forecasting and replenishment process. He provides replenishment input into the Headquarter regarding supply and operation process as may be necessary. Finally, he is expected to assume any other responsibility and reporting that may support the business as may be demanded by the top management. The respondent revealed to be a holder of Master degree in business logistic with seven years of experience of supply chain management. He is also proficient with relevant computer skills such as excel, word as well as some applic ation software for supply logistic management. The greatest job achievement discovered in the interview was gaining experience on how to develop effective supply and logistic strategies at customer level. Some of the main challenges mentioned include the expanding scope of customer needs, insufficient funds to support all the requirements of the department and the complexity of the supply chain. The Operational and Strategic Objectives of the Supply and Purchasing

Money, Power, and Wall Street Essay Example for Free

Money, Power, and Wall Street Essay The meltdown of 2008 struck the banks when they were unable to adequately deal with the financial crisis. Banks are designed to create and protect one’s wealth, but they took advantage of the people, and let people take many loaning risks that they couldn’t afford. Banks created the credit default swap which transferred credit of fixed income products between parties. In learning about the credit default swap in class, it is understood that the buyer receives credit protection, whereas the seller guarantees the credit. Therefore, the risk of default is transferred from the holder to the seller of the swap. But swaps allowed companies to shed the risks they didn’t want to take. When the banks first created the swaps, it gave investors the opportunity to invest in bank loans. From there, banks sold derivatives on all portfolios by synthetic investment. Investors were able to invest in credit default swap and make it grow. Credit then became a more available asset which stroke employment. Now all banks wanted credit derivatives; which are privately held negotiable contracts that allow consumers to manage their exposure to credit risk. The main problem with this was they assumed risk could be eliminated, but it couldn’t. In order to regulate derivatives, Congress passed the Glass-Steagall Act in 1933 to establish deposit insurance, and implemented a number of banking regulations. As learning in class, this affected every business in America. There was now a high rating, and high yield. The big return was bankers now bought bundled mortgages. Homebuyers were able to pay double, but lending was too much; making people going bankrupt in home mortgages. Borrowers gave loans greater than the value of that loan, which made the financial bubble burst, creating a recession. With bankers ignoring all the possible risks from the beginning, they feel into a deep crash. Goldman Sachs was the only bank to make money off the bubble burst by betting against their clients.

Reconstruction of the South :: essays research papers

President Abraham Lincoln envisioned a conservative plan for the reconstruction of the south. Under Lincolnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s plan, as soon as ten percent of the voters in a southern state whom have voted in 1860 and had taken an oath of loyalty to the United States, they could then elect constitutional conventions. These conventions, upon adopting new state constitutions and abolishing slavery they would then be readmitted to the union. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln would change polices towards reconstruction of the south.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Lincoln was succeeded by his vice president Andrew Johnson. Johnson was a southern democrat who believed in the union, however, he did not believe in black equality. Johnson believed that the planter class in the south had led their section of the country to ruin. As far as blacks were concerned, they were an inferior race to be held in some sort of subjugation to the dominant white population of the south. His attitude ran into a head on collision with that of the radical republicans in congress led by Thaddeus Stevens.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Johnson tried to enforce Lincolnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Ten Percent Plan. That as soon as ten percent of the population of any southern state took an oath of loyalty to the union and adopted a constitution that abolished slavery they would be readmitted to the union. The radical republicans in congress totally disagreed with Johnson. Many of the southern states in 1865 under presidential reconstruction adopted what was known as black codes. These codes restricted blacks from any participation in the rights of citizenship. Blacks were confined to an inferior position, they were not legally slaves anymore, but they had no rights of citizenship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When congress reconvened in December of 1865, they refused to accept the delegations from southern states. The radical republicans in congress designed a serious of acts known as the reconstruction acts to implement their program in the south. These acts included the Freedmanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Bureau that helped the free slaves adjust to a free society. Also, the Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed blacks both the right to vote and the right to hold property. President Johnson vetoed all the reconstruction acts of congress and congress under the domination of the radical republicans overrode his vetoes. This gridlock between the presidential power and congressional power set the stage for an impeachment in 1868.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Presidential reconstruction under Andrew Johnson was an attempt to rob blacks of their rights that they had won during the Civil War. Reconstruction of the South :: essays research papers President Abraham Lincoln envisioned a conservative plan for the reconstruction of the south. Under Lincolnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s plan, as soon as ten percent of the voters in a southern state whom have voted in 1860 and had taken an oath of loyalty to the United States, they could then elect constitutional conventions. These conventions, upon adopting new state constitutions and abolishing slavery they would then be readmitted to the union. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln would change polices towards reconstruction of the south.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Lincoln was succeeded by his vice president Andrew Johnson. Johnson was a southern democrat who believed in the union, however, he did not believe in black equality. Johnson believed that the planter class in the south had led their section of the country to ruin. As far as blacks were concerned, they were an inferior race to be held in some sort of subjugation to the dominant white population of the south. His attitude ran into a head on collision with that of the radical republicans in congress led by Thaddeus Stevens.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Johnson tried to enforce Lincolnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Ten Percent Plan. That as soon as ten percent of the population of any southern state took an oath of loyalty to the union and adopted a constitution that abolished slavery they would be readmitted to the union. The radical republicans in congress totally disagreed with Johnson. Many of the southern states in 1865 under presidential reconstruction adopted what was known as black codes. These codes restricted blacks from any participation in the rights of citizenship. Blacks were confined to an inferior position, they were not legally slaves anymore, but they had no rights of citizenship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When congress reconvened in December of 1865, they refused to accept the delegations from southern states. The radical republicans in congress designed a serious of acts known as the reconstruction acts to implement their program in the south. These acts included the Freedmanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Bureau that helped the free slaves adjust to a free society. Also, the Civil Rights Act, which guaranteed blacks both the right to vote and the right to hold property. President Johnson vetoed all the reconstruction acts of congress and congress under the domination of the radical republicans overrode his vetoes. This gridlock between the presidential power and congressional power set the stage for an impeachment in 1868.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Presidential reconstruction under Andrew Johnson was an attempt to rob blacks of their rights that they had won during the Civil War.

Sloboat Case Study

Sloboat Case Study March 7, 2013 Capstone Seminar Sean McNamara, Matthew Sylvia, Michael Regghetio Analysis of Sloboat Case Study In this case we take on the role of Rick Craner, the financial accountant for Sloboat Shipping Inc. Rick is faced with compiling, organizing, and evaluating the company’s financial activity for the 2012 fiscal year. We are provided with several notes on Sloboat financial transactions, and we are tasked with sorting through these transactions to provide a suitable evaluation and presentation of Sloboat’s financial standings at the end of the 2012 fiscal year.It is important to look at all of the transactions described in the case study before moving forward. The case study broke down these transactions into â€Å"financing† and â€Å"investing†. The following are transactions that occurred under â€Å"financing†: * 7% bonds payable issued on November 1, 2010 * Bonds pay interest semi-annually on May 1st and November 1st * Market interest rate on the date of issuance had been 8% * SSI decided to retire 50% of the 7% bonds on August 1, 2011 * Additional 30,000 common shares issued on June 14, 2011 * Common dividend of $0. 5 per common share on December 1, 2011 with date of record of December 5th and distribution on December 20th The following are transactions that occurred under â€Å"investing†: * SSI owned 250, 7. 5% bonds of â€Å"OnCap Financial†, purchased in late fiscal 2011, bonds paid interest on March 1st and September 1st and set to mature on March 1, 2014. On January 31, 2012, the market decreased to 5% and SSI sold all the outstanding bonds. * SSI owned 20,000 shares in Lowland Resources. On October 2, 2011 SSI received a 5% stock dividend. Each share was trading at $22. 62. On December 15, 2011 SSI decided to sell 60% of its holdings (12,000 stocks).SSI paid a $400 brokerage fee. On February 29, 2012, the remaining shares were trading at Statement of Financial Position| As at February 28, 2011| | | | | | ASSETS| | | | | Current Assets:| | | | | Cash| $| 12,736 | | Bond Investing Recievable| | 9,375 | | Trading Investment-Stocks| | 468,600 | | Trading Investments-Bonds| | 260,156 | | Inventory| | 47,987 |   | | | | | 798,854 | Property, Plant, and Equipment| | 742,108 |   | | | | | 742,108 | Total Assets| | | | 1,540,962 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Liablities & Shareholder's Equity| | | | Liabilities| | | | | Current liabilities:| | | | |Bond interest payable| $| 23,333 | | Dividends payable| | 11,250 |   | | | | | 34,583 | | | | | | Long-term liabilities:| | | | | 7% Bonds Payable(1,000 bonds; mautres 11/1/15)| | 961,694 |   | | | | | 961,694 | Total Liabilities| | | | 996,277 | | | | | | | | | | | Shareholders' equity| | | | | $2. 25 cumlative, non-convertible preferred stock| | 37,500 | | 150,000 authorized; 5,000 outstanding| | | | Common stock| | 253,000 | | 500,000 authorized; 20,000 outstanding| | | | Stock dividend to be distributed| | 15,430 | | Retained earnings| | 238,755 |   | Total Shareholders' equity| | | 544,685 | | | | | |Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity | | | $1,540,962 | | | | | | Cash Reciepts and Disbursements| For Fiscal 2012| | | | | | Cash Reciepts| | | | | Common Shares| $| 610,500 | | Bond Investment| | 18,750 | | | | | | Trading investing – Bonds| | 272,331 | | Trading investing – Stocks| | 268,610 | | Total| | $| 1,170,191 | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash Disbursements| | | | | 7% Bonds Payable| $| 528,517 | | Bond interest| | 52,500 | | Dividends| | 30,150 | | Total| | $| 611,167 | | * $19. 45 (8,000 stocks). Statement of Financial Position| As at February 28, 2012| | | | | | ASSETS| | | | | Current Assets:| | | | |Cash| $| (468,111)| | Bond Investing Recievable| | 9,375 | | Trading Investment-Stocks| | 468,600 | | Trading Investments-Bonds| | 310,644 | | Inventory| | 47,987 |   | | | | | 368,495 | Property, Plant, and Equipment| | 742,108 |   | | | | | 742,108 | To tal Assets| | | | 1,110,603 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Liablities & Shareholder's Equity| | | | Liabilities| | | | | Current liabilities:| | | | | Bond interest payable| $| 73,821 | | Dividends payable| | 11,250 |   | | | | | 85,071 | | | | | | Long-term liabilities:| | | | 7% Bonds Payable(1,000 bonds; mautres 11/1/15)| | 480,847 |   | | | | | 480,847 |Total Liabilities| | | | 565,918 | | | | | | | | | | | Shareholders' equity| | | | $2. 25 cumlative, non-convertible preferred stock| | 37,500 | | 150,000 authorized; 5,000 outstanding| | | | Common stock| | 253,000 | | 500,000 authorized; 20,000 outstanding| | | | Stock dividend to be distributed| | 15,430 | | Retained earnings| | 238,755 |   | Total Shareholders' equity| | | 544,685 | | | | | | Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity | | | $1,110,603 | | | | | | Cash Reciepts and Disbursements| For Fiscal 2013| | | | | | Cash Reciepts| | | | | Common Shares| $| 610,500 | | Bond Investment| | 18,750 | | | | | Trading i nvesting – Bonds| | 272,331 | | Trading investing – Stocks| | 268,610 | | Total| | $| 1,170,191 | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash Disbursements| | | | 7% Bonds Payable| $| 528,517 | | Bond interest| | 52,500 | | Dividends| | 30,150 | | Total| | $| 611,167 | | Bond Interest Payable $33659. 29 Bonds Payable $480847 Bond Interest Payable $16829. 50 Bond Interest Payable $33659. 29 Bonds Payable $480847 Bond Interest Payable $16829. 50 Trading Investments bonds $33659. 29 Cash $480847 Trading Investment Bond $16829. 50 Trading Investments bonds $33659. 29 Cash $480847 Trading Investment Bond $16829. 50 Debit Credit

Mary’s Maids Cleaning Services

Running Head: MARY’S MAIDS Mary’s Maids Cleaning Services Prepared for Vicki Long Keller Submitted by Shunta Dorrough On March 21, 2010 Table of Contents Executive Summary †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 Mission Objectives Product/ Services Description Situation Analysis †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4 Target Market †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Competitor & Substitutes †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 7 Pricing †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 Channels of Distribution †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Promotion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Promotion Budget †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Executive Summary Mary Maids Cleaning Services (MMCS) is a residential house cleaning service serving upper-class families in Plano, TX. Through generous human capital investments, MMCS will exceed our customer's expectations. We will be servicing the wealthy single-income households and affluent two-income households. These targeted families will be willing to pay a premium for our service because of the high level of professionalism and trustworthiness that we offer, not replicated by any of our competition. MMCS projected growth rate is  very high each year with respectable  profit margins as a percentage of sales. MHCS will be a home-based business. By the end of year one, MHCS will have five additional employees. There are many options for maid services, but there is only one that stands out as the best Mary Maids that is. Mary Maids Cleaning Service's mission â€Å"Is to provide the customer with all residential cleaning services in an environmentally sound, completely trustworthy, and professional manner. We exist to attract and maintain customers. When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place. Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers. Mary Maids Cleaning Service's objectives for the first four years of operation include: †¢ To create a service based company whose #1 goal is exceeding customer's expectations. †¢ To increase our number of clients served by 20% per year through superior service. †¢ To develop a sustainable home-based business, living off its own cash flow. †¢ The utilization of Mary Maids Cleaning Service on a regular basis by at least 30% of the  leads that contact us for more information. Product/ Services Description Situation Analysis MMCS will offer a wide range of services to the residential client, from general room cleaning to child/pet disasters which can go hand in hand. We will be going after the upper end of the market, typically the affluent whose spouse does not have a full-time job but chooses to do other things with his/her time, or  the two income family who chooses not to clean the home themselves. The business will be based out of the CEO Mary Blanktrip’s home office. Between the hours of 6AM-8AM Mary will work on  scheduling, estimates, inventory, ordering, and customer care management. The home office will include a computer, land phone line, and a fax machine. From 9AM-5PM Mary will clean homes until additional staff is hired. Mary Maids Cleaning Service's start-up costs include equipment needed for a home-based business (Exhibit 1),  initial legal fees, marketing fees, cleaning equipment and supplies, uniforms, and signs for employee vehicles. Employee expense is a commercial vacuum cleaner and assorted brooms, mops, and chemicals (biodegradable). SWOT Strengths CEO of Mary Maids Cleaning Services was a stay at home mom for 25 years †¢ Mary understands what it takes to balance home, children, and work †¢ Mary will achieve this high level of service through extensive training and a continuous learning process Weakness †¢ Major competition Molly Maids †¢ New company to the area †¢ First time business owner Opportunit y †¢ MMCS will be qualifying leads over the phone with estimates †¢ MMCS will arrange a  in house meetings to give estimates †¢ The sales process will begin through the qualification of leads generated from our marketing campaign Threats Balancing the whole business (includes office paper work & cleaning services) †¢ Getting customers to trust new business owner Target Market Mary Maids Cleaning Service will provide a residential house cleaning service for the upper end of the market. We will have two target customers: 1. The affluent that does not work, but is not inclined to do housework. To many a maid/house cleaner is a symbol of wealth, and this idea symbolizes this group of customers. 2. The two-income households whose opportunity costs are too great to spend time cleaning the house. MMCS offers house cleaning to these targeted customers. House cleaning ranges from cleaning of standard rooms such as kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, as well as more unusual jobs like small disasters from children and pets. The first is the affluent where only one spouse works. Although the other spouse is at home and has time to clean, he/she chooses not too. This spouse would rather volunteer for a public interest organization, play tennis and golf, or just spend time how  he/she chooses to. They have no desire to clean the house day in an out. To them that is not enjoyable and they have the money to pay someone to do that kind of work. This market has annual incomes over $200,000 and lives in expensive homes. According to Money Magazines Plano has 150, 100 that fall into this category, this group reliably uses cleaning services. The second segment of the market that we are targeting is the two income family. Over the last couple of decades, the number of two-income households has increased. This is to a point where in parts of the country they exceed one income families. Our target customer is two income families whose combined annual income is over $125,000. These families don't really have the time to clean, can afford a cleaning service, and choose to hire a service because the opportunity costs are too high to waste time  cleaning their house. These households are typically age 32-55 and live in houses valued over $250,000. According to Money Magazines Plano have 100,000 families that fall into this demographic. It is this segment which has tremendous potential for us. Nearly 80% of dual income households use an outside cleaning service for some of their house cleaning according to the U. S. Department of Commerce. Additionally, there are some potential customers that MMCS has labeled as  assorted â€Å"well-off† households. These are families that have the money for our services that do not fit neatly into the two previous categories. Competitor Molly Maids have been in service for 25 years and offer services in different states. They offer cleaning services in all rooms of the home and use a company car. Molly’s is major cooptation that allows potential customers to view their services online. They have earned their trust with their clients by being in the business so long by offer great services. They use at least two2 people to clean the home to oversee the work of each other (Molly Maid. com). Although there are lots of competitors in the cleaning service space, there is good reason for this competition, and demand is high. Cleaning service customers want quality, and not everyone in the cleaning service space offers quality. How often when you ask one of your friends for a referral do they tell you they have been using a bunch of different companies and they have yet to find one that they are truly happy with. The residential house cleaning market is serviced predominately by independent companies. There are however, a few large franchises. Residential services are divided into a couple of different categories, maid or house cleaners, carpet cleaners, window cleaners, and a variety of other services that are required on a less frequent basis. We charge a premium for our services, and people are willing to pay to get our unsurpassed level of professionalism, trustworthiness, and attention to detail. We provide the most pleasant experience possible. Price |Exhibit 1 | |Start up Requirements | |Start-up Expenses 300. 00 | |Legal 50. 00 | |Stationery etc. 200. 0 | |Brochures $200 | |Insurance $500 | |Uniforms $100 | |Cleaning Equipment $800 | |Office Furniture $100 | |Communication Equipment $100 | |Computer Equipment $1,500 | |Magnetic Car Signs $75 | |Cleaning Supplies $200 | |Other $0 | |Total Start-up Expenses $3,925 | References

Future-in-the-Past Tense in English Grammar

Future-in-the-Past Tense in English Grammar In English grammar, the future-in-the-past is the use of would or was/were going to to refer to the future from the perspective of some point in the past. As illustrated below, other verbs in the past progressive can also be used to convey this future-in-the-past perspective. Also known as: Prediction in the past Examples and Observations: Matilda stretched herself out, feeling her bones getting longer and longer. In a little while she would be taller than Frances, maybe one day even taller than Elizabeth. Maybe one day she would be the tallest woman in the world and she could join a circus.She was sure that Boyne would never come back, that he had gone out of her sight as completely as if Death itself had waited that day on the threshold.He had not believed her when she said they would meet only once.Fred Ballard, a local playwright friend of my mother, told her that I should go to his alma mater, Harvard and that he would make inquiries on my behalf, which he did without success. Use of Be Going to [T]he future-in-the-past...  is used where the speaker wishes to refer to a past time at which a particular event was still in the future, even though now, at the moment of speaking, it is past. This particular combination frequently makes use of the semi-modal expression be going to since this is readily marked for the past. It is frequently used where some anticipated event does not occur or an expectation is canceled. Consider these examples: I was going to tell him, but he didnt give me a chance.I thought we were going to eat out tonight.She was going to qualify next year, but now it will take longer. Use of the Past Progressive When an arranged-future-in-the-past (or rather arranged-future-from-the-past, as it is a future relative to the time of a past arrangement) concerns a personal arrangement, we normally use the progressive form of the past tense. This parallels the use of the present progressive for arranged post-present situations. [Mary and Bill were stuffing a goose.] They were having guests that evening.[There was no point in inviting the Robinsons, as] they were leaving the day before the party.[The man was very nervous.] He was getting married that morning.[I didnt call him up to tell him the news because] I was going to his office the next day. The use of the progressive past is possible even if the context makes it clear that the action planned was not actually performed. Relative Tenses Relative tenses represent deictic tenses. . . . Thus had sung is the past-in-the-past, has sung the past-in-the-present, and will-have-sung the past-in-the-future. Similarly, would sing is the future-in-the-past, is (about) to sing the future-in-the-present, and will be (about) to sing the future-in-the-future. Coincident (relatively present) tenses are ignored by many contemporary theorists, though Lo Cascio (1982: 42) writes of the imperfect, which is considered in traditional grammar a present-in-the-past, as a past coincident tense. Sources Robert I. Binnick, Temporality and Aspectuality.  Language Typology and Language Universals: An International Handbook, ed. by Martin Haspelmath. Walter de Gruyter, 2001.Joseph L. Cacibauda,  After Laughing, Comes Crying: Sicilian Immigrants on Louisiana Plantations. Legas, 2009.Renaat Declerck, Susan Reed, and Bert Cappelle,  The Grammar of the English Tense System: A Comprehensive Analysis. Walter de Gruyter, 2006Ursula Dubosarsky,  The Red Shoe. Roaring Book Press, 2006.Martin J.  Endley,  Linguistic Perspectives on English Grammar. Information Age, 2010Ted Sorensen,  Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History. Harper, 2008.Edith Wharton, Afterward, 1910.

Offshore oil in gulf of mexico Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Offshore oil in gulf of mexico - Essay Example However, oil production is an activity that can highly affect the environment, an issue, which has not been taken into consideration by those managing oil production activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, up to now, the oil production activity in the Gulf of Mexico has been stigmatized by a series of accidents, which have led to severe environmental damages, as explained below. The responsibility of the firms managing the particular activities but also of the local authorities is high. The need for measures for ensuring the limitation of risks related to oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is emergent. The oil spill caused in the region because of the accident occurred in 2010 in BP’s platform has been characterized as the worst environmental damage in the history of USA; measures should be taken in order to ensure that similar damages would not be developed in the specific region. The economic and social benefits of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico cannot be ignored b ut they should not be considered as of higher importance compared to the local natural environment the damages on which because of oil production can be long term. The Gulf of Mexico covers an area of about 172580 miles (Pinet 494). There are two main entryways for the specific region; ‘the first one is located between Yucatan and western Cuba and the other between Southern Florida and northern Cuba’ (Pinet 494). ... developed in 1987 the amount of oil available in the specific region was estimated to 9 million barrels but a later research indicated an extremely high amount of oil trapped in the Gulf of Mexico, i.e. about 45 million barrels (Gertz 2008). Because of its importance in terms of energy but also in terms of the natural environment, the region has been set under the close control of USA government which has promoted appropriate legislative texts for ensuring the protection of the region from over-exploitation (Humphries 2); the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 is such text (Humphries 2). The above text, which was introduced by President Bush, bans leasing in regard to the major part of Eastern Gulf of Mexico (Humphries 2). Still, there are certain pieces of the Gulf where no limits exist in regard to their exploitation through drilling projects. In ‘April 17, 2009, the USA court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’ (Humphries 2) held that existing lea sing scheme related to the region should be cancelled and reviewed by the relevant USA authorities as its terms were not clearly defined. It is clear that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has to be aligned with the legislation of the countries having interests in the particular region, such as Mexico, the USA and Cuba. Since the accident of April 2010 in BP’s platform in the Gulf of Mexico, drilling activities in the region have been temporarily banned in order for the damages on the environment to be controlled. Recently, US regulators approved BP’s new drilling plans for the Gulf of Mexico (Economic Times 2011), a fact indicating that oil production in the particular region is difficult to be terminated, despite the severe effects of 2010 oil spill. The significant interests in terms of

Literature 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Literature 4 - Essay Example ading as well as for their recreation on the one hand, and for the character building and moral uplift of the innocent minds on the other, the writers take it as their moral obligation and professional duty to create such theme which portrays dutiful, honest and chaste as the follower of good, while liars, dishonest and trouble-creating characters as the representatives of evil. The writers also cite the fate of the transgressors and disobedient to the ways of the Creator, by which they look after keeping the children far away from the wrong-doing and evil. The same can be witnessed by going through the novel under analysis. Renowned fantasy writer Nancy Veglahn in her work has posed the question ‘who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Women know – and likewise men know what evil lurks in the hearts of women’ (2003, p.114). By her proposition, she simply views that both male and female are can assess and comprehend with the negative and evil thoughts growing in the hearts of the members of their opposite gender; it is therefore, they portray each other as monsters and evils in their works because of the very reality that they are actually fearful of the hidden emotions prevailing in the breast of each other. Hence, the writers of both the sexes are psychologically aware of the flaws and faults of the individuals belonging to opposite gender; consequently, they project, promote and highlight these negative traits and characteristics in such an astounding way that it creates the same image in the innocent minds of children while their reading the fantasy, so that they could im agine the evils in the same lines on which they have studied them. Here arises the question whether there exists or not any need for the specification of gender identity in the literature meant for children. The theorists are of the opinion that since children have to take various responsibilities on the foundation of their gender in future, so there must be established the

Challenging perspective in research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Challenging perspective in research - Essay Example According to him: â€Å"Looking at the different cultures of the world, one finds that no society is classless that is un-stratified. There are some primitive communities so small that no class strata appear, the social organization resting almost entirely on age, sex and kinship; but even here chieftainship individual prowess and clan or family properly introduce an incipient stratification.† (Davis and Moore, 1945: 242, quoted in Zaidi, 1997: 29) A child learns the process of interaction with other individuals from family and the peer group. All the parents try to bring up their children within the best possible atmosphere. The resources play pivotal role in the socialization of the individuals in a society. The members belonging to the upper class contain better opportunities to educate and nurture their children, and thus can make them more civilized and cultured ones in the future years to come, whereas the lower classes lack proper sources and opportunities that may influence their children. Rothstein has also defined the fact in the following words: â€Å"Parents of different social classes often have different child-rearing styles. It makes sense when you think about it: If upper-middle-class parents have jobs where they are expected to collaborate with fellow employees or create new solutions to problems, they are more likely to talk to their children in open-ended ways that differ from how parents address children if their own jobs simply require following orders. Children raised by middle-class parents will, on average, have more inquisitive attitudes toward academic material than children raised by working- class parents. No matter how competent a schoolteacher, lower-class children’s achievement will, on average, almost inevitably be less. Because the achievement gap already exists by age 3, it is unlikely to be narrowed without expensive infant and toddler centers where lower-class children can be

El Lissitzky Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

El Lissitzky - Essay Example He designed several exhibition display and propaganda for the Soviet Union and experimented with several techniques and styles that set him apart from other artist, in creativity, and later paved a niche for him through the 20th century (Lissitzky-Kuppers, 1980; Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum and El Lissitzy, 1990). Lazar Markovich Lissitzky, a Jew, started as an artist early in life copying and illustrating Yiddish children's books. His efforts were basically aimed a promoting the Jewish culture in Russia, in line with the several changes taking place after the country's anti-Semitic laws were repealed. Starting at the age of 15, he began teaching, a duty that he never strayed far away from, for the most part of his life (Friedberg, 1987). He taught in a variety of positions, schools, and artistic mediums, spreading and exchanging ideas at a rapid pace. The ability to imbibe people's ideas and at the time same influencing them, was his unique trait. This trait was exhibited when he met and worked with Malevich in heading the suprematist art group UNOVIS, when he developed a variant suprematist series of his own, Proun, and further still in 1921, when he took up a job as the Russian cultural ambassador in Weimar Germany, working with and influencing important figures of the Bauhaus and De Stijl movements during his stay (Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum and El Lissitzy, 1990). Also, in his later days, he significantly influenced and brought several innovations to the fields of typography, exhibition design, photomontage, and book design. He produced several internationally recognised works. This continued until his deathbed, where in 1941 he produced one of his last known works - a Soviet propaganda poster rallying the people to construct more tanks for the fight against Nazi Germany (Lissitzky-Kuppers, 1980). However, the entire career and works of El Lissitzky was inspired by his belief that art should serve the needs of the society and that the artist should be an agent of change. From this perspective, it can be argued that his innovations in the world of art were driven by his resolve to serve societal needs, or affect the lots of the people, giving his devotion to the communist movement (Lissitzky-Kuppers, 1980; Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum and El Lissitzy, 1990). This essay therefore, intends to examine the life and work of El Lissitzky with a view to analysing the impacts and effects that the ethical and ideological views prevalent during his days, especially during the Russian Revolution had on his approach to art and design. To achieve this purpose, this essay will be structured thus: the first section of this essay shall briefly describe the history of El Lissitzky and the rise of the Proletarian Culture to provide a background understanding of his early days and perhaps his motivation. The second section will describe the several popular works of this artist and attempt to critically examine the influence of the prevalent soviet ideological of the time, on such work of art. Also, by looking at how his approach to art and design metamorphosed from the early days of illustrating Yiddish books to his later days in typography, on would gain an insight into how prevalent ethics and ideological perspectives influenced his approach to, and

Recommendations For Solid Waste Management In Mauritius Environmental Sciences Essay

Recommendations For Solid Waste Management In Mauritius Environmental Sciences Essay Mauritius is a small island and due to land scarcity, it can neither have many landfills nor have all its wastes recycled. But it should be noted that incineration is not the ideal solution to this problem; it will rather encourage more wastes to be produced. First of all the Government should try to implement a zero waste policy. The use of plastics bags should be forbidden. Sorting of wastes should be encouraged to be done at home or onsite itself (plastics/organic/metals). Electronic gadgets should be made in such a way that they can be processed for parts that can be recycled and the toxic elements disposed of in the proper way and not burnt. If some of the steps are implemented, there will be nothing to get incinerated or a minimum amount of wastes would be burnt. Therefore, the followings are some of the proposed ideas towards sustainable municipal solid waste management: Policy planning and Strategy Solid waste management plans First of all there should be solid waste management plans in place. Waste management plans have essential roles to play towards sustainable waste management. Their primary purpose is to provide an outline of sources of wastes and treatment options. Waste management plans, national as well as local/regional are essential tools helping in the implementation and achievement of policies and targets that have been set up. Furthermore, the plans give an outline of the amount of wastes to be managed. Also, they contribute to ensuring that the capacity and the way of collection and treatment systems are coherent with the waste to be managed. The plans also identify areas in which technological measures should be taken to get rid of or minimize certain types of waste. Moreover, waste management plans make way for a statement of financial requirements for the operation of collection schemes and treatment of waste among others. On this basis, the needs for further investments in waste treatment plans may be determined. As a solution to many waste management problems, the involvement of several participants/authorities are required and coherent planning helps to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and thus benefits all participants, (EU Commission, Environment, 2003). Zero-waste policy The aim of this policy should be geared towards a sustainable economy. The purpose is to minimize consumption to a reasonable extent by using design-for-environment in every product and their packaging, and to make them all recyclable. The determining factors to achieve Zero Waste are the productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ designs and industrial processes, that is, their components should be made in such a way that they can be dismantled, repaired and/or recycled. Zero Waste implies merging communities, businesses and industries such that ones waste becomes anotherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s feedstock, which results in preventing pollution at its source. Implementing Zero waste will get rid of all discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the planetary, human, animal or plant health, (Recycling Council of British Columbia, 2009). Management of Municipal Solid Waste Waste Minimization Waste minimization is considered as a waste management approach that emphasizes on decreasing the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste that is generated. It is believed that waste minimization methods that focus on avoiding waste from ever being created, (source reduction) and recycling is encouraged. There are three general methods of waste minimization: source reduction, recycling, and treatment, (Scott.W.D, 2005). Waste minimization can be achieved by reusing materials. In doing so, materials which were bound to become waste can be used again and there will be no need for recycling, combustion for energy purpose and disposal of waste materials to landfill. This can lead to a reduction in waste management costs. However this can effectively be done by planning, fabricating, buying, or making use of materials in a way that reduce the amount of trash created, less waste is created and fewer natural resources are used. Waste Sorting Waste sorting should be done at home and this can be achieved by the help of the local authorities, in the sense that, the three bins system should be implemented and there should be continual training and education awareness programmes. People should be taught how to use this system effectively and the reason behind using it. The three bins can either be coloured differently or labelled in order to facilitate the users to dispose their wastes in the corrective way. Waste sorting helps in achieving a sustainable environment, in the sense that recyclable wastes will be disposed separately and thus can be sent directly to the recycling industries and other wastes can be processed accordingly. This will save time and cost of labour also. Composting Composting is the decomposition of organic matter by microorganism in warm, moist, aerobic and anaerobic environment. There are different ways to do composting. It varies from simple and cheap backyard or onsite composting methods to more costly and sophisticated methods such as in-vessel composting. For materials such as food garbage, vegetables garbage and other materials which are degradable, adoption of proven technologies for processing such waste as backyard composting can be used; as this can reduce the amount of waste destined for disposal. Inhabitants can then sell the compost to nearby farmers and other users. Government should favor and stimulate the development and acceptance of appropriate technologies for the conversion of municipal solid waste to compost and promote markets for its use as a soil amendment. It can also be noted that inhabitant can use the soil conditioner obtained from composting to grow their own vegetables and crops. This is a good path towards sustai nability and it demands patience and cooperation. However this project may take time to develop in Mauritius because there is lack of willingness on the part of communities, local authorities and other parties such as the informal sector and the formal waste collector. health, Best practices Enforcing Law To achieve a sustainable waste management, the Government must take actions against those who by-pass the law by throwing wastes haphazardly. The à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"pay- as -you -throwà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ program should be put in place and the local authorities must ensure that the legal duty to abide by this particular program is imposed on all people in the country, including tourists. Education and awareness There should be a continuous awareness programme in place, so that every person gets well accustomed to the new techniques of municipal solid waste management. There should also be public education so that people are not only made aware of the new techniques, but also that they can understand the reasons behind managing municipal solid wastes sustainably. The public should know and understand the importance of sustainable development.

Female Mutilation :: essays research papers

Female Genital Mutilation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Almost every person around the globe has a different viewpoint of different subjects. One such example is that of female genital mutilation, or otherwise noted as female circumcision. Many groups of people find female genital mutilation to be sacred while another group believes it to be terribly horrendous. Each year millions of women worldwide undergo a procedure often referred to as female circumcision; there are many reasons why a woman would choose to have this be done as well as many more women who go through this malicious process against their will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Female genital mutilation is called by a variety of different names. A couple of them include female circumcision and female cutting. Female circumcision is used in reference to female circumcision being the male circumcision’s counterpart. However, this is undoubtedly not the case. Female cutting is the most simplistic name given; it only regards the procedure as â€Å"cutting.† Female genital mutilation came along some years later with the intention of drawing attention to the horrid nature of the procedure (Source   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several different types of female circumcision. Mainly the types vary by severity of degree to which they are performed. Type I includes the â€Å"removal of the clitoral hood with or without removal of part or all of the clitoris† (Source Type 1 Excision (removal) of the clitoral hood with or without removal of part or all of the clitoris. Type 2 Removal of the clitoris together with part or all of the labia minora. Type 3 (infibulation) Removal of part or all of the external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora) and stitching and/or narrowing of the vaginal opening leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow. Type 4 (unclassified) All other operations on the female genitalia, including: Pricking, piercing, stretching, or incision of the clitoris and/or labia; Cauterization by burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues; Incisions to the vaginal wall;

Kings of Pastry Review

Kings Of Pastry Throughout history the French have maintained a culture that, when viewed by the outside world, is synonymous with fine cuisine, artistically beautiful architecture, and the overall presence of an elitist attitude to the folks who simply don’t belong within their borders. When discussing artistic craftsmanship and French cuisine in the same note, it is impossible for those who are aware of its existence not to mention the, Meillur Ouvrier de France.Commonly abbreviated, MOF, the Meillur Ouvrier de France, is a prestigious award that is earned by only the best pastry chefs in the business. To win the collar awarded to MOF’s is the ultimate acknowledgment of a pastry chef’s skills. Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker’s film, King’s of Pastry, speaks to the artistic genius in all of us, delving into the mental, physical, and creative ability required to win such a competition. This revealing film leads viewers to the realization that bec oming an MOF is to win the most difficult competition in the entire cooking realm.Following expert French pastry chef’s Jacquy Pfeiffer, Sebastien Canonne and Philippe Rigollot, the viewer is placed in the passenger seat on their obsessive quest for the quaint yet distinct collar that represents more than just a prestigious award. Though universally bided together by the competitions regulations, the candidates experience uniquely different trials and tribulations on their endeavors to have the chance to be declared forever one of the best in France.Not an aluminum, Iron, or any type of malleable metal Chef, not the winner of the fouled mouthed Gordon Ramsay’s train wreck of a show, Hell’s Kitchen, but a Meillur de France. King’s of Pastry begins with various scenes from French cities accompanied by subtitles that function as vocally silent narration. The opening narration is utilized to give background to the award, Meillur Ouvrier de France, and the env ironment in which the competitions are held. As the opening scenes of French architecture and culture subside, the film transitions into an introduction of the French chef Jacquy Pfeiffer.Pfeiffer manages the The French Pastry School in Chicago. Considered to be one of the most prominent cooking schools in the country, and the only one that exclusively teaches pastry, The French Pastry School thrives itself on engaging students while they learn the techniques necessary for mastering the art of French Pastry. As the camera follows Pfeiffer at work, the viewer is exposed to the surgeon like dexterity required to craft tasty and aesthetically pleasing pastry dishes.Along with the help of already renowned MOF’s, Pfeiffer and his team not only teach daily classes but are also in the midst of training for the upcoming MOF competition. In Olympic style, this three-day competition is held every four years and is a mental and physically draining process. After a somewhat long-winded i ntroduction, Pfeiffer finally bids his family adieu and embarks on his journey to France. As the film brings the audience back within French borders, a faster paced tempo is desired but not delivered. At this point in the film, we are introduced to more competitors of the MOF competition in a tangent like manner.Hardly any background is given to these competitors, which makes it difficult for the viewer to feel empathy or any other emotion towards them. Moreover, if it weren’t for the collars on the MOF’s it would be near impossible to differentiate which chefs are actually competing due to the plethora that appear in a single kitchen at any given moment. This middle part of the film also leads the viewer to realize how much preparation goes into such a competition. While I retained respect and understanding of this notion, I still found myself rolling my eyes every so often at the dragging manner in which the film presents itself.Despite the slow tempo and mono toned commentaries, the breathtaking sugar sculptures and mouth-watering pastry dishes suffice as a motive for the audience to be drawn into the film and left in awe at the craftsmanship required to create these dishes. Furthermore, these dishes more aptly resemble art sculptures that would be found in an art gallery rather than something on the desert menu at a restaurant. Consequently, it becomes apparent through commentary that transporting these sculptures is half the battle.At one instance Pfeiffer and company is seen moving one of the sculptures and at an erroneous placement the sculpture crumbles. Why these competitors would have to haul these magnificent sculptures anywhere was elusive at first. However, in light of the fact that the competition does in fact require the competitors to move their sculptures from the kitchen to the gallery was enough to rationalize how the entire competition could be reduced to a balancing act. It is for this reason that the MOF is a long-shot of a competition; one that requires dexterity and creativeness to craft the pastries, but also luck when required to move them.As the practice and preparation stages come into cessation, the competitors are eager for the anticipated three-day event to begin. As the first day of competition commences the competitors are required to work in the same kitchen at different stations. Cheating is unthinkable and impossible as countless MOFs pace about the kitchen scrutinizing every move the participants make. As the film finally transitions into a speedy pace it greatly exposes that in order to succeed, time management, efficient skills, and quickness are all equally imperative factors when creating dishes.The implication is surely one that speaks to most high-level competitions. An implication that a lifetime of skill and practice is not enough, rather a competitors entire repertoire is tested within a matter of hours. The competitors must obtain perfection that day, a task that requires both proficiency and chance. The second day of the competition entails the competitors to create ten cupcake resembling pastries called, â€Å"verrines. † Five of these must have the bride’s name, the other five must include the groom’s. The final day consists of creating the fragile sugar sculpture and then transporting it to the gallery room.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirteen

Bonnie clutched the banana-nut muffin to her chest as if it was some kind of sacred offering. She just could not bring herself to knock on Matt's door. Instead, she turned big pleading brown eyes on Meredith and Elena. â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† Meredith muttered, reaching past her, shifting the pile of bagels and the carton of orange juice she was carrying, and rapping loudly on the door. â€Å"I don't know what to say,† Bonnie whispered back, agonized. Then the door opened, and Matt appeared, red-eyed and pale. He seemed somehow smal er and more hunched into himself than Bonnie had ever seen him. Overwhelmed with pity, she forgot al about being nervous and launched herself into his arms, dropping the muffin in the process. â€Å"I'm so sorry,† she choked out, tears running down her face. Matt held on to her tightly, bending over and burying his head in her shoulder. â€Å"It's okay,† she said final y, desperately, patting the back of his head. â€Å"I mean, no, it's not †¦ of course it's not †¦ but we love you, we're here.† â€Å"I couldn't help him,† Matt said dul y, his face stil pressed against Bonnie's neck. â€Å"I tried my best, but he died anyway.† Elena and Meredith joined them, wrapping their arms around Matt from either side. â€Å"We know,† Elena said, rubbing his back. â€Å"You did everything you could for him.† Matt pul ed out of their arms eventual y and gestured around the room. â€Å"Al this stuff is his,† he said. â€Å"His parents don't feel like they're ready to clear out his things yet, they told the police. It's kil ing me to see it al stil here when he's not. I thought about packing it up for his parents, but there's a possibility that the police might want to look through his stuff.† Bonnie shuddered at the thought of what Christopher's parents must be going through. â€Å"Have something to eat,† Meredith said. â€Å"I bet you haven't eaten for ages. Maybe it'l help you feel better.† Al three girls fussed around, fixing the breakfast they'd brought for Matt, then convincing him to taste something, anything. He drank some juice and picked at a bagel, his head lowered. â€Å"I was at the police station al night,† he said. â€Å"I had to keep going over and over what happened.† â€Å"What did happen?† Bonnie asked tentatively. Matt sighed. â€Å"I real y wish I knew. I just saw somebody dressed in black running away from Christopher. I wanted to chase him, but Chris needed my help. And then he died. I tried, but I couldn't do anything.† His forehead creased into a frown. â€Å"The real y weird thing, though,† he said slowly, â€Å"is that, even though I saw a person running away, the police think Christopher was attacked by some kind of animal. He was †¦ pretty ripped up.† Elena and Meredith exchanged an alert glance. â€Å"A vampire?† said Meredith. â€Å"Or a werewolf, maybe?† â€Å"I was wondering about that,† Matt admitted. â€Å"It makes sense.† Without seeming to notice, he finished his bagel, and Elena took advantage of his distraction to slip some fruit onto his plate. Bonnie wrapped her arms around herself. â€Å"Why?† she asked. â€Å"Why is it that, wherever we go, weird, scary things happen around us? I thought that once we left Fel ‘s Church things would be different.† No one argued with her. For a little while, they al sat quietly, and Bonnie felt as if they were huddling together, trying to protect themselves from something cold and horrible. Final y, Meredith reached out and took an orange slice off Matt's plate. â€Å"The first thing we need to do, then, is to investigate and try to figure out if these attacks and disappearances are supernatural.† She chewed thoughtful y. â€Å"As much as I hate to say it, we should probably get Damon on this. He's good at this kind of thing. And Stefan should know what's going on, too.† She looked at Elena, her voice gentle. â€Å"I'l talk to them, okay, Elena?† Elena shrugged. Bonnie could tel she was trying to keep her expression blank, but her lips were trembling. â€Å"Of course,† she said after a minute. â€Å"I'm sure they're both checking things out anyway. You know how paranoid they are.† â€Å"Not without reason,† Meredith said dryly. Matt's eyes were wet. â€Å"Whatever happens, I need you to promise me something,† he said. â€Å"Please, be careful. I can't – let's not lose anyone else, okay?† Bonnie snuggled closer to him, putting her hand on his. Meredith reached over and placed her hand over both of theirs, and Elena added hers to the pile. â€Å"We'l take care of one another,† Elena said. â€Å"A vow,† said Bonnie, trying to smile. â€Å"We'l always watch out for one another. We'l make sure everyone is safe.† At that moment, as they murmured in agreement, she was sure they could do it. Meredith pivoted and stepped forward, swinging her staff down to strike at Samantha's heavily padded knees. Samantha dodged the blow, then jabbed her own staff straight toward Meredith's head. Meredith blocked the blow, then thrust her staff at Samantha's chest. Samantha staggered backward and lost her footing. â€Å"Wow,† she said, rubbing her col arbone and looking at Meredith with a mixture of resentment and appreciation. â€Å"That hurt, even with the padding. I've never trained with anyone so strong before.† â€Å"Oh, Well,† Meredith said modestly, feeling absurdly pleased, â€Å"I practice a lot.† â€Å"Uh-huh,† Samantha said, eyeing her. â€Å"Let's take a break.† She flopped down on the mat, and Meredith, her staff balanced lightly in one hand, sat beside her. It wasn't her staff, of course, not her special hunting one. She couldn't bring her heirloom slayer staff to the gym – it was too clearly a customized deadly weapon. But she'd been delighted to learn that Samantha could fight with a four-foot-long jo staff and that she had an extra. Samantha was quick and smart and fierce, one of the best sparring partners she'd ever had. Fighting, Meredith was able to block out the helpless feeling she'd had in Matt's room this morning. There was something so pathetic about seeing al Christopher's things sitting there ready for him, when he was never coming back. He had one of those weird little fake Zen gardens on his desk, the sand neatly groomed. Maybe just the day before, Christopher had picked up the tiny rake in his hand and smoothed the sand, and now he'd never touch anything again. And it was her fault. Meredith squeezed her staff, her knuckles whitening. She had to accept that. If she had the power of being a potent force against darkness, a hunter and slayer of monsters, she had the responsibility, too. Anything that got through and kil ed someone in her territory was Meredith's failure and her shame. She had to work harder. Practice more, go out patrol ing the campus, keep people safe. â€Å"Are you al right?† Samantha's voice broke through Meredith's thoughts. Startled, Meredith saw Samantha staring at her with wide, solemn dark eyes, taking in Meredith's gritted teeth and clenched fists. â€Å"Not entirely,† said Meredith dryly. â€Å"Um.† She felt like she had to explain her grimness. â€Å"Did you hear about what happened last night, the guy who was kil ed?† Samantha nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. â€Å"Well, he was the roommate of a real y good friend of mine. And I was with my friend today, trying to help him. It was †¦ upsetting.† Samantha's face seemed to harden, and she scrambled up on her knees. â€Å"Listen, Meredith,† she said, â€Å"I promise you this isn't going to happen again. Not on my watch.† â€Å"On your watch?† Meredith asked mildly. Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe. â€Å"I have responsibilities,† Samantha said. She dropped her eyes to her hands. â€Å"I'm going to catch this kil er.† â€Å"It's a big job,† Meredith said. It wasn't possible, was it? But Samantha was such a good fighter, and what she was saying †¦ why would she think she was responsible for stopping the kil er? â€Å"What makes you think you can do it?† she asked. â€Å"I know this is difficult to believe, and I shouldn't even be tel ing you, but I need your help.† Samantha was looking straight into her eyes, practical y vibrating with earnestness. â€Å"I'm a hunter. I was raised to†¦ I have a sacred trust. Al my family for generations, we've fought against evil. I'm the last of us. My parents were kil ed when I was thirteen.† Meredith gasped, shocked, but Samantha shook her head fiercely, pushing Meredith's sympathy away. â€Å"They hadn't finished training me,† she continued, â€Å"and I need you to help me get better, get faster. I'm not strong enough yet.† Meredith stared at her. â€Å"Please, Meredith,† Samantha said. â€Å"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. People are depending on me.† Unable to stop herself, Meredith started to laugh. â€Å"It's not a joke,† Samantha said, jumping to her feet, her fists clenched. â€Å"This is†¦ I shouldn't have said anything.† She stalked toward the door, her back as straight as a soldier's. â€Å"Samantha, wait,† Meredith cal ed. Samantha whirled back toward her with a face ful of fury. Meredith took a quick breath and tried desperately to remember something she'd learned as a child but never had occasion to use. Crooking her pinkies together, she drew up her thumbs to make a triangle, the secret sign of greeting between two hunters. Samantha just stared at her, face perfectly blank. Meredith wondered if she remembered the sign correctly. Had Samantha's family even taught it to her? Meredith knew there were other families out there, but she had never met any of them before. Her parents had left the hunter community before she was born. Then Samantha, moving as quickly as she ever had when they'd sparred, was before her, gripping her arms. â€Å"For real?† Samantha said. â€Å"Are you serious?† Meredith nodded, and Samantha threw her arms around her and clutched her tightly. Her heart was beating so hard that Meredith could feel it. Meredith stiffened at first – she wasn't the touchy-feely type, despite being best friends with wildly affectionate Bonnie for years – but then relaxed into the hug, feeling Samantha's slim, muscular body under her arms, so like her own. She had the strangest feeling of familiarity, as if she had been lost and had now found her true family at last. Meredith knew she could never say any of that, and part of her felt like she was betraying Elena and Bonnie just by thinking that way, but she couldn't help it. Samantha pul ed away, smiling and weepy, wiping at her eyes and nose. â€Å"I'm acting stupid,† she said. â€Å"But this is the best thing that ever happened to me. Together, we can fight this.† She gave a half-hysterical sniff and gazed at Meredith with huge shining eyes. â€Å"I feel like I've made a new best friend,† she said. â€Å"Yes,† Meredith said – not weeping, not laughing, cool as ever on the outside but, inside, feeling like she was breaking into happy pieces – â€Å"yes, I think you're right.†